Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Threats and opportunities facing French spa
therapy
Bouvier CE (1)
(1) General Delegate of CNETH.
French professional organization representing operators in therapy
claude-eugene.bouvier@cneth.org
Introduction and Objectives
French thermalism is highly dependent on public regulations and finance. State
and public bodies have a major say on cares delivered, in both nature and number,
on required qualifications of therapists, on a fixed 3-week’s duration, on hygiene
and safety. At the same time, public financing of cares is by far more important than
the contribution of complementary private health insurances and out-of-pocket
payments by the patient. Some 8 years ago, the National Health Insurance openly
stated that hypothesized health benefits of spa therapy were no longer good enough
to keep the subsidizing of thermal treatments. Clinical research with flawless methodology
had to be organized to prove thermalism has a true medical interest. Years
later the challenge has been met and fewer opponents question any longer the
virtues of hydrotherapy. However, in the wake of spiralling health costs putting a
strain on public spending, a new requirement is set on spa center operators. Nowadays,
they also have to prove that thermalism is cost-efficient in comparison with
other therapies. The yet to be proved economic relevance of spa therapy as well as
new expectations are set to bring about a dramatic shake-up by which alongside the
traditional treatment of chronic diseases, spa companies will have to address new
fields of competences, such as prevention, rehabilitation, quitting of addictions,
postponing of age-associated loss of autonomy,etc. This is way out the current
framework, but essential to the survival of most thermal establishments.
Materials and Methods
not relevant
Results
not relevant
Conclusions
not relevant
Keywords: Health Policy : National Health Insurance: Health Impact Assessment :
Prevention
Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 243
243
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4